Updated 15 June 2025
For each session at GSAL I need a minimum of 6 people with enhanced DBS Check which is for “child workforce” and including a “children’s barred list” check. Also the Certificate must be subscribed to the DBS Update Service.
Before I can book our first session at GSAL I need to be able to confirm to them that I do have the requisite number available to attend.
If you already have DBS elsewhere then skip to the section “I’ll check your Certificate”. It I find that it doesn’t have everything that GSAL needs then come back to “To obtain a new DBS Certificate”
To obtain a new DBS Certificate
Those who normally lead groups but don’t have the correct level of DBS are invited to get a DBS organised by Valley Striders.
Note that you may only apply for DBS if you are a leader; it is unlawful to apply for DBS for a role that doesn’t need it
I have found a charity, “Learning Partnerships”, who organise volunteers to help children in schools to read. They are able to receive, verify and forward DBS application requests from other organisations for processing. I have now got a new DBS Certificate for myself and I received it back within 14 days (with Easter holidays in the middle). They are in Harehills in the old Burton’s offices near St James’ Hospital.
Please arrange to visit them. Please email Gail Clark at Learning Partnerships to arrange a mutually suitable date and time (she works part time) [email protected] .
You will need several items of ID
- Passport
- Driving licence (photo version)
- Birth certificate
- Document with National Insurance number on (e.g. payslip or tax code notification)
- Proof of your current address by means of any official letter sent to you in the last 3 months – could be a utility bill or bank statement.
The Certificate is free for volunteers but you’ll need to pay their processing fee of £20. I’m not sure whether they have a credit card machine. I paid by bank transfer but this may delay the process. I will then reimburse you from the Valley Striders bank account with the £20 plus £5 petrol/subsistence.
When applying for the DBS, there are a four boxes where the wording is critical
- Position applied for – CHILD WORKFORCE VOLUNTEER GROUP LEADER
- Name of employer – VALLEY STRIDERS ATHLETICS CLUB
- DBS Children’s Barred List Check – REQUIRED
- DBS Adults’ Barred List Check – NOT REQUIRED
Tracking your Application Form
- If you’re already registered with the DBS Service, login to https://secure.crbonline.gov.uk/crsc/subscriber using your Service account number (it will be a “C” and 10 digits) and your date of birth, this will give a screen where you can then add your Application Form to your account
- If you’re not already registered with the DBS Service then use this link
https://secure.crbonline.gov.uk/crsc/apply,
click in the acknowledgement box and press Continue
then fill in the form, including your Application Form Number
Remember to write down your account number (“C” and 10 digits) somewhere safe e.g. a post-it note (and then on the back of your Certificate when it does arrive) - I think it will show the Certificate number as soon as it has been allocated.
When your Certificate arrives
If you had already registered your Application Form then log into your account
https://secure.crbonline.gov.uk/crsc/subscriber and you should now see your Certificate.
If you hadn’t registered your Application Form then ….
- If you’re already registered with the DBS Service, just use option 1 above but you will be able to add your Certificate (instead of adding an Application Form) with the option “Use my Certificate number instead”
- If you’re not already registered with the DBS Service, just use option 2 above but you will be able to add your Certificate (instead of adding an Application Form) with the option “Use my Certificate number instead”
I’ll check your Certificate
I do need to do “see” your Certificate to check that it is the correct level and I do need to do an online check of your Certificate to see that it is up to date.
Please will you send me a photo of your Certificate. I need to see that the “Position applied for” includes “Child Workforce”, that the “DBS Children’s Barred List Information” says “None Recorded” rather than “Not Requested” and that it does say it is an “Enhanced” Certificate.
Please also put in your email your Certificate number and date of birth as these are not always easy to read.
Please email to [email protected] (not to either of the juniors email addresses as there are others with access).
I will then do a check using the DBS Update Enquiry feature on the GOV.UK website.
The small print says that you “authorise me to receive update information (within the meaning of section 116A of the Police Act 1997) in relation to your criminal record Certificate for the purposes of asking an exempted question within the meaning of section 113A of the Police Act 1997, or in relation to your enhanced criminal record Certificate for the purposes of asking an exempted question for a prescribed purpose within the meaning of section 113B of the Police Act 1997.”
None of this information will be passed to GSAL.
During the week of 9 September (our last session at GSAL) I will delete from my records all the information I have received from and about you including your Certificate number and your date of birth.
Thank you!!
Background … and your responsibilities
This year GSAL have introduced additional safeguarding requirements for hirers of their facilities. This follows some new government legislation in 2024.
There is a new question as follows “If working with children/vulnerable adults, please confirm that you and all your staff/ volunteers, providing or offering a service on your behalf during the hire period, have had an enhanced DBS Check, including a ‘children’s barred list’ check and subscribe to the DBS Update Service at the point of renewing their DBS Certificate and maintain their registration at all times during the Hire Period”.
Those of you who came to our training sessions at GSAL last year will know that we have between 20 and 30 parents volunteering each week and it appeared to be a deal breaker because there was no way we could get DBS for all these people. Subsequently I have negotiated that we only need our group leaders to have DBS and that all the other volunteers are working under their supervision.
At this stage don’t panic that I’m now going to give any of you full responsibility for leading a group and organising volunteers and leading activities and safeguarding.
Please read the “ARRANGEMENTS” section of this page that I’ve just put on the website.
https://www.valleystriders.org.uk/juniors-training-at-gsal-2025/
Each group will now have 3 leaders and the responsibilities listed above will be shared by these 3 leaders. Those with DBS will look after safeguarding but the other leaders will do most of the rest. Those with DBS are designated “Main Group Leader” as this is the job title I’ve agreed with GSAL.
Tess Freer, who has kindly volunteered to be Welfare Officer for the junior section of Valley Striders, will give you a briefing before the session on Tuesday.
Bob